An update on the in-patient unit at the Marie Curie Hospice, Liverpool

In the interest of patient safety, Marie Curie took the difficult but necessary decision to pause admissions to the in-patient unit at our hospice in Liverpool last summer. Like many other care providers, Marie Curie in Liverpool has experienced challenges recruiting and retaining the number of staff required to safely run the unit. 

We’re very sorry for the concern this has caused and understand how this has impacted our patients, staff, volunteers, supporters and the local community. Throughout this period, Marie Curie has continued to care for local people at the end of life through all our other services, including as outpatients at the hospice.

We're continuing to work with Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board who are responsible for commissioning and funding palliative care services which meet the needs of the local population, to reach an agreement which would enable the sustainable reopening of the in-patient unit at our Liverpool hospice. The agreement will need to address the funding shortfall which currently prevents sustainable delivery of services, staffing requirements for the hospice, and the commitment to work together on a guaranteed future for more widely accessible in-patient beds across Liverpool. We very much hope we can reach a shared resolution on these issues.

We understand and appreciate the commitment and passion of patients, loved ones, carers, staff, volunteers, supporters and local people in Liverpool. We want to share our plans as they develop and understand how you have been affected by the temporary closure of the unit. So we are holding an event on Monday 28 April to listen to your concerns and update you. The event will be open to everyone, and Marie Curie’s senior leaders will host the meeting.

It will be at Woolton Golf Club, Doe Park, Speke Rd, Liverpool, L25 7TZ with arrivals from 4.30pm. The meeting will start at 5pm until 6.30pm with time to talk to staff and access support after the meeting. Places are limited and so booking is essential.

You can ask questions ahead of the event using the booking form and will also have opportunity to do so on the day. This will help us to make sure we can address as many questions or topics as possible, but we want to reassure you that any questions that cannot be answered in the time we have will be addressed after the event as best we can. If you’re planning to attend, please make sure you let us know about any accessibility needs you or someone you are attending with has so that we can provide the right support and access for everyone attending. If we don’t know about your requirements, we may not be able to make the necessary adjustments on the day.

Once our online tickets are sold out you can be added to a waiting list by calling 0151 801 1498 on weekdays between 9am-4pm. A week or so before the public event we will offer any remaining offline tickets to those people on the waiting list, on a first come first served basis.

You will receive an email confirming your booking. Those without computers can book by phoning 0151 801 1498 (open weekdays between 9am-4pm).

Please also keep an eye on this page for regular updates and for the event agenda.

If you’d like to tell us what you think or ask a question, about the event or anything else get in touch with us by emailing comments@mariecurie.org.uk.

All our other services in Liverpool are operating as normal, so please continue to ask for support if you need it. To learn more about the services in your area and how we may be able to help, call 0300 100 1002 or visit our North West services page.

Marie Curie’s Support Line offers free information and emotional support for people living with a terminal illness and their family, friends and carers. Give us a call on 0800 090 2309 or email support@mariecurie.org.uk. Open 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday, and 10am to 4pm Saturday to Sunday.